"Now in its third week, the government shutdown is keeping the lights off across much of Washington, but it's shining a big, bright light on the ways Capitol Hill is changing. Gone are the days in which network television was king. Now politicians who want to get their message out are taking to YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and podcasts. It seems as though every elected official in Washington is on a quest to become a digital influencer or content creator."
"After Democrats finished holding court in a televised press conference on the Capitol's east steps during the first week of the shutdown, many of the assembled lawmakers immediately broke out into small groups with their staffers to record selfie videos and standups in lieu of the customary conversations with reporters and camera crews. The same thing happened again following an identical event on Wednesday."
During the third week of the government shutdown, many Washington offices remain closed while Capitol Hill political communication shifts toward digital platforms. Politicians favor YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and podcasts to reach constituents and craft influencer-style content. After televised press conferences, lawmakers and staffers record selfie videos and standups instead of speaking with reporters and camera crews. House Democrats have produced direct-to-constituent videos criticizing political opponents and pointing out Republican absences. Millennial and Gen Z staffers are replacing gimmicky trendposting with more authentic videos that restore lawmakers' normal faces, voices, and personalities in online content.
Read at Thebulwark
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